Battery charger having oblique coupling rails
A battery charger with an improved battery retention system is provided. The battery charger includes at least one pocket having a bottom and sidewalls. A pair of battery engagement rails, or coupling rails, extends outward into the pocket at an angle that is non-orthogonal with the sidewalls. These non-orthogonal rails, which may include embedded electrical contacts, mate with non-orthogonal female slots in a battery pack housing. The non-orthogonal angle prevents lateral forces applied to the battery from causing intermittent electrical connections between the battery pack and the charger. Additionally, the non-orthogonal angle of the rails allows batteries of various sizes to be inserted into the pocket while ensuring a consistent and reliable electrical connection.
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1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to desktop chargers for rechargeable battery packs, and more specifically to a charger having a pocket with oblique coupling rails to retain a battery pack within the pocket for charging.
2. Background Art
Portable electronic devices, like two-way radios and mobile phones for example, owe their portability to rechargeable battery packs. Rechargeable battery packs conveniently supply power to these portable devices without the need for wires, plugs or electrical outlets. In other words, when using a mobile device with a rechargeable battery pack, the user may take the device anywhere—at any time—without the need of being continually tethered to a wall outlet.
Rechargeable battery packs typically include one or more rechargeable electrochemical cells that store and deliver electrical energy. These electrochemical cells, which may be coupled to circuitry within the pack for charging or safety, must be recharged when depleted to remain functional. While charging may be accomplished by simply plugging a wired connector from a power supply into the battery pack, many people prefer the convenience of desktop chargers to facilitate the recharging process. When using a desktop charger, the user simply inserts either a spare rechargeable battery pack or electronic device itself into the charger. The charger then detects the presence of the battery or device and begins to recharge the cells in accordance with a predetermined charging procedure. Batteries and devices for industrial use, like the two-way radios used by fire and police departments, typically stand vertically within the charger when charging. The radio, standing in this vertical position, remains easily accessible and visible to the user.
To keep these large batteries from tipping over when charging, some manufacturers have incorporated battery retention systems into the chargers and their corresponding rechargeable battery packs. One example of a prior art battery retention system can be seen in
In this prior art battery retention system, the battery pack 100 is equipped with two channels 102, or slots, which run lengthwise along the battery pack housing on opposite sides of the battery pack 100. These channels 102 are perpendicular to the opposing sides upon which they are disposed.
A battery charger for this battery 100, which includes a pocket into which the battery 100 may be inserted for charging, would include two rails disposed on opposite sides of the pocket. The two rails are disposed in such a manner that when the battery pack 100 is inserted into the pocket, the two rails are aligned with the channels 102 of the battery pack 100. The alignment of the rails with the channels 102 ensures that electrical contacts disposed within the pocket of the charger couple securely and consistently with charging contacts 101 disposed on the battery pack 100.
The problem with this prior art battery retention system is that some batteries, often made for the same radio, are thicker than others. Consequently, for the fixed ribs and slots of this prior art retention system the pocket of the charger must be bigger than the smallest battery. Were this not the case, the largest battery could not be charged in the charger. This problem can be seen in
In
A second problem arises when battery packs become smaller and smaller. To get the same amount of energy from a smaller battery pack, designers will reduce the thickness of the plastic exterior housing. In so doing, the thickness of the plastic exterior housing may be reduced to such an extent that slots can no longer accommodated. Since the charger-to-battery connection relies upon the rail-to-slot connection, designers must add extra plastic about the base edges of the battery pack just to accommodate the slots. These bumps of extra plastic material, often referred to as “rocket boosters”, can make the overall appearance of the battery pack unsightly.
There is thus a need for an improved battery housing having a contact retention system that accommodates battery packs of varying thicknesses and does not require the use of extra material on the exterior of the battery pack housing.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
This invention provides a charger capable of supplying a voltage and current to a rechargeable battery pack for recharging. The charger includes at least one pocket for accommodating the rechargeable battery pack. The pocket includes a battery retention system to ensure a consistent and reliable connection between the rechargeable battery pack and electrical contacts disposed within the pocket.
The pocket includes a bottom member that supports the rechargeable battery when inserted into the pocket. The pocket also includes a plurality of sidewalls that extend vertically at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the pocket. In one preferred embodiment, the pocket includes three sidewalls. A fourth sidewall is omitted, thereby allowing greater visibility of the rechargeable battery and/or electronic device that is seated in the pocket.
The battery retention system includes a pair of battery engagement rails disposed along at least one of the sidewalls. The battery engagement rails, which may be located on either the same sidewall or on multiple sidewalls, are contiguous with the sidewall. The battery engagement rails extend outward from the sidewalls at an angle that is oblique with any of the sidewalls, preferably at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees.
As noted above, electrical contacts are disposed within the pocket to recharge the battery pack. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, these electrical contacts are disposed within the battery engagement rails, thereby facilitating both a more reliable electrical connection to the battery pack, as well as a more aesthetically pleasing pocket design. Electrical circuitry, disposed within the charger, is connected to the electrical contacts and may ramp, step, taper or otherwise modulate the voltage and current to properly charge the battery pack.
The battery retention system of the charger of this invention is suitable for use with a battery pack having non-orthogonal slots, as is recited in commonly assigned, copending application entitled “Battery Pack Having Non-Orthogonal Coupling Slots”, filed May 5, 2005, Ser. No. 11/122915. Turning now to
The battery pack 400 includes four major faces and four intersection seams. As can be seen from the perspective view of
In the exemplary embodiment of
Depending upon where the female slots 407,408 are located, various housing elements will provide separation between the slots 407,408. For example, turning again to the exemplary embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of
Turning now to
In the embodiment of
Turning now to
In accordance with the invention, the pocket 700 includes oblique battery engagement rails 701,704 for mating with the pair of female slots disposed within the exterior housing of the battery pack. The oblique battery engagement rails 701,704, which may be located either in corners 710,711, as is shown in
The oblique angle of the battery engagement rails 701,704 (with respect to the sidewalls 707-709) ensures the battery will be retained in the pocket 700 during the charging process. This is due to the fact that the oblique angle serves to resist any lateral forces that may be exerted on the battery while in the pocket 700. Electrical contacts (not shown in this view) which may be disposed along any of the sidewalls 707-709, will be held reliably in contact with the charging contacts of the battery as a result of the coupling of the battery engagement rails 701,704 with the pair of female slots disposed in the battery pack.
While in
Turning now to
As noted above, the electrical contacts in the charger pocket may be physically separate from the battery engagement rails. For example, they may be disposed along one of the sidewalls, while the battery engagement rails may be disposed within the corner regions. In another preferred embodiment, however, the electrical contacts may be disposed within the battery engagement rails themselves. Turning now to
In
Turning now to
To summarize the invention, a desktop battery charger having a pocket for receiving a rechargeable battery pack is provided. The pocket is equipped with a battery retention system to ensure that a reliable and consistent connection between the battery pack and the charger exists. The pocket includes a bottom member for supporting the rechargeable battery pack when inserted into the pocket and at least one sidewall extending substantially orthogonally from the bottom member. There are at least two coupling rails for engaging the rechargeable battery pack. The coupling rails run contiguously with the at least one sidewall and extend away from the at least one sidewall at a oblique angle. Electrical contacts, capable of supplying voltage and current to the rechargeable battery pack, are included as well.
The coupling rails may be disposed in a variety of locations within the pocket. For example, the coupling rails may be disposed along one sidewall. The coupling rails may also be placed on different sidewalls. Explained differently, a first coupling rail may be disposed along a first sidewall, while a second coupling rail may be disposed along a second sidewall.
Similarly, where the pocket has three sidewalls, two corner regions will exist where the three sidewalls intersect. In such an embodiment, the coupling rails may be disposed within the corner regions. For example, a first coupling rail may be disposed along a first corner region, while a second coupling rail may be disposed along a second corner region. Electrical contacts, which may be physically separate from the coupling rails, may be included within the coupling rails to provide a “hidden” electrical connection.
Embedding the electrical contacts within the coupling rails offers numerous advantages over prior art charging systems. A first advantage is improved battery aesthetics. Since the electrical contacts are hidden when the battery is inserted into the pocket, they are not easily seen by the user.
Additionally, when the coupling rails are physically separate, for instance when they are disposed within the corner regions of the pocket, additional separation between the contacts is provided. This additional isolation prevents, for example, salt and other impurities found in the air from creating corrosive bridges between the contacts.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A charger capable of providing voltage and current to a rechargeable battery pack, comprising:
- a. at least one pocket in the charger for accommodating the rechargeable battery pack, the pocket comprising: i. a pocket bottom; ii. at least opposing parallel sidewalls; iii. a pair of non-conductive battery engagement rails accommodating the battery pack, each battery engagement rail connected to a portion of the sidewall, the battery engagement rails connected to the sidewalls in a fixed, non-retractable manner parallel with the opposing sidewall and extending obliquely outward from the sidewalls such that a plane containing a centerline of the battery engagement rail is oblique to a plane containing the sidewall to which the battery engagement rail is connected where the battery engagement rail is connected the sidewall; and iv. electrical contacts and
- b. electrical circuitry in the charger coupled to the electrical contacts for charging the rechargeable battery pack.
2. The charger of claim 1, wherein the pair of battery engagement rails are disposed along one of the sidewalls.
3. The charger of claim 1, wherein a first battery engagement rail is disposed along a first sidewall, further wherein a second battery engagement rail is disposed along a second sidewall.
4. The charger of claim 1, wherein the pocket bottom is substantially horizontal.
5. The charger of claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts are physically separate from the pair of battery engagement rails.
6. The charger of claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed within the pair of battery engagement rails.
7. The charger of claim 1, wherein the battery engagement rails extend outward from the at least one of the sidewalls at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from the sidewalls.
8. A desktop battery charger having a pocket for receiving a rechargeable battery pack, wherein the pocket comprises:
- a. a bottom member in the charger for supporting the rechargeable battery pack when inserted into the pocket;
- b. at least one sidewall in the charger extending substantially orthogonally from the bottom member;
- c. at least two non-conductive coupling rails in the charger for engaging the rechargeable battery pack, the at least two coupling rails running contiguously with the at least one sidewall and extending away from the at least one sidewall at an oblique angle, the coupling rails configured to couple with slots in the battery pack such that the battery pack is restrained from moving along the at least one sidewall, the coupling rails connected to the at least one sidewall in a fixed, non-retractable manner; and
- d. electrical contacts in the charger capable of supplying voltage and current to the rechargeable battery pack.
9. The charger of claim 8, wherein the at least two coupling rails are disposed along one of the at least one sidewall.
10. The charger of claim 8, wherein a first of the at least two coupling rails is disposed along a first sidewall, further wherein a second of the at least two coupling rails is disposed along a second sidewall.
11. The charger of claim 8, wherein the pocket comprises at least three sidewalls, wherein the pocket further comprises at least two corner regions where the at least three sidewalls intersect.
12. The charger of claim 11, wherein a first coupling rail is disposed along a first corner region, further wherein a second coupling rail is disposed along a second corner region.
13. The charger of claim 8, wherein the pocket bottom is substantially horizontal.
14. The charger of claim 8, wherein the electrical contacts are physically separate from the at least two of coupling rails.
15. The charger of claim 8, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed within the at least two coupling rails.
16. The charger of claim 8, wherein the coupling rails extend from the at least one sidewall such that the coupling rails extend outward at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from the at least one sidewall.
17. A charger capable of providing voltage and current to a rechargeable battery pack, comprising:
- a. at least one pocket in the charger for accommodating the rechargeable battery pack, the pocket comprising: i. a pocket bottom; ii. opposing parallel sidewalls iii. a connecting sidewall disposed between and perpendicular to the opposing sidewalls; iv. corner regions connecting the opposing sidewalls with the connecting sidewall; v. non-conductive battery engagement rails accommodating the battery pack and extending outward from the corner regions such that the rails are oblique with the opposing sidewalls and the connecting sidewall, the battery engagement rails configured to couple with slots in the battery pack such that the battery pack is restrained from moving along the opposing sidewalls and the connecting sidewall, the battery engagement rails connected to corner regions in a fixed, non-retractable manner; and vi. electrical contacts; and
- b. electrical circuitry in the charger coupled to the electrical contacts for charging the rechargeable battery pack.
18. The charger of claim 17, wherein the electrical contacts are physically separate from the pair of battery engagement rails.
19. The charger of claim 17, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed within the pair of battery engagement rails.
20. The charger of claim 17, wherein the rails extend outward at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees from each sidewall.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 30, 2005
Date of Patent: Jun 2, 2009
Patent Publication Number: 20060244413
Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL)
Inventors: Karl Zedell (Alpharetta, GA), Yoshitaka Matsuzawa (Atlanta, GA), Mark C. Taraboulos (Chamblee, GA)
Primary Examiner: Akm E Ullah
Assistant Examiner: Arun Williams
Attorney: Philip H. Burrus, IV
Application Number: 11/117,798
International Classification: H02J 7/00 (20060101);